Advancing green extraction of bioactive compounds using deep eutectic solvent-based ultrasound-assisted matrix solid-phase dispersion: Application to UHPLC-PAD analysis of alkaloids and organic acids in Coptidis rhizoma

The utilization of deep eutectic solvents (DES) in sustainable extracting and separating of phytochemicals shows promising prospect. An exceptionally fast, eco-friendly, and sustainable approach was proposed for extracting bioactive compounds from Coptidis Rhizoma based on deep eutectic solvent-based ultrasound-assisted matrix solid phase dispersion (DES-UA-MSPD). Single-factor experiments and Box-Behnken design were utilized to explore the optimal extraction conditions. The analysis indicated that the acidic DES, especially betaine-acrylic acid (Bet-Aa 1:4 mol/mol) with 50% water content, was proved to be the most effective medium for the extraction of alkaloids (magnoflorine, groenlandicine, coptisine, epiberberine, berberine and palmatine) and organic acid (chlorogenic acid). With the parameters optimized, the total maximum extraction yield of alkaloids and organic acids reached 128.83 mg g-1 applying the optimal DES, which was 1.33-5.33 folds higher than conventional extraction solvents. Additionally, through microstructure analysis using scanning electron microscopy, density functional theory , and frontier molecular orbitals theory, a deeper understanding of the extraction principle was gained, and the molecular mechanism of DES synthesis and the interactions between target compounds were systematically elucidated. The sustainable and green potential of the DES-UA-MSPD method was demonstrated through Green Analytical Procedure Indexanalysis. The overall results of this investigation revealed that the proposed technology was a highly promising and sustainable alternative for effective extraction and quantification of natural products.

Multifunctional Lanthanide Metal-Organic Frameworks Based on -NH2 Modified Ligand: Fluorescent Ratio Probe, CrO42- Ions Adsorption, and Photocatalytic Property

In response to the growing concern for environmental pollution, two lanthanide compounds {[Ln(L)(H2O)]·4H2O}n (where Ln = Tb and Gd, H3L = 1-amino-2,4,6-benzene tricarboxylic acid) were synthesized using a -NH2 modified ligand and systematically characterized. Both compounds exhibit remarkable fluorescence response, adsorption of CrO42- ions, and photocatalytic degradation properties, as well as exceptional acid-base and thermal stability. Remarkably, the pH-dependent 1-Tb exhibits exceptional performance as a fluorescent probe for detecting Fe3+ and CrO42-/Cr2O72- ions in aqueous solutions, while also serving as a ratiometric fluorescent probe for the detection of Cr3+, offering rapid response, high sensitivity, selectivity, and recoverability advantages in application. Moreover, 1-Tb exhibits excellent detection capabilities and displays effective adsorption of CrO42- ions, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 230.71 mg/g. On the other hand, 1-Gd exhibits superior performance compared to 1-Tb in the photocatalytic degradation of antibiotics. The degradation mechanism is further elucidated by conducting experiments with DFT theoretical calculations.

Biotransformation of the Fluoroquinolone, Levofloxacin, by the White-Rot Fungus Coriolopsis gallica

The wastewater from hospitals, pharmaceutical industries and more generally human and animal dejections leads to environmental releases of antibiotics that cause severe problems for all living organisms. The aim of this study was to investigate the capacity of three fungal strains to biotransform the fluoroquinolone levofloxacin. The degradation processes were analyzed in solid and liquid media. Among the three fungal strains tested, Coriolopsis gallica strain CLBE55 (BRFM 3473) showed the highest removal efficiency, with a 15% decrease in antibiogram zone of inhibition for Escherichia coli cultured in solid medium and 25% degradation of the antibiotic in liquid medium based on high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Proteomic analysis suggested that laccases and dye-decolorizing peroxidases such as extracellular enzymes could be involved in levofloxacin degradation, with a putative major role for laccases. Degradation products were proposed based on mass spectrometry analysis, and annotation suggested that the main product of biotransformation of levofloxacin by Coriolopsis gallica is an N-oxidized derivative.

Recent advances on rapid detection and remediation of environmental pollutants utilizing nanomaterials-based (bio)sensors

Environmental safety has become a significant issue for the safety of living species, humans, and the ecosystem as a consequence of the harmful and detrimental consequences of various pollutants such as pesticides, heavy metals, dyes, etc., emitted into the surroundings. To resolve this issue, various efforts, legal acts, scientific and technological perspectives have been embraced, but still remain a global concern. Furthermore, due to non-portability, complex detection, and inappropriate on-site recognition of sophisticated laboratory tools, the real-time analysis of these environmental contaminants has been limited. As a result of innovative nano bioconjugation and nanofabrication techniques, nanotechnology enables enhanced nanomaterials (NMs) based (bio)sensors demonstrating ultra-sensitivity and a short detection time in real-time analysis, as well as superior sensitivity, reliability, and selectivity have been developed. Several researchers have demonstrated the potent detection of pollutants such as Hg²⁺ ion by the usage of AgNP-MD in electronic and optoelectronic methods with a detection limit of 5-45 μM which is quite significant. Taking into consideration of such tremendous research, herein, the authors have highlighted 21st-century strategies towards NMs based biosensor technology for pollutants detection, including nano biosensors, enzyme-based biosensors, electrochemical-based biosensors, carbon-based biosensors and optical biosensors for on-site identification and detection of target analytes. This article will provide a brief overview of the significance of utilizing NMs-based biosensors for the detection of a diverse array of hazardous pollutants, and a thorough understanding of the detection processes of NMs-based biosensors, as well as the limit of quantification (LOQ) and limit of detection (LOD) values, rendering researchers to focus on the world's need for a sustainable earth.

Recent Advances in the Synthesis of Inorganic Materials Using Environmentally Friendly Media

Deep Eutectic Solvents have gained a lot of attention in the last few years because of their vast applicability in a large number of technological processes, the simplicity of their preparation and their high biocompatibility and harmlessness. One of the fields where DES prove to be particularly valuable is the synthesis and modification of inorganic materials-in particular, nanoparticles. In this field, the inherent structural inhomogeneity of DES results in a marked templating effect, which has led to an increasing number of studies focusing on exploiting these new reaction media to prepare nanomaterials. This review aims to provide a summary of the numerous and most recent achievements made in this area, reporting several examples of the newest mixtures obtained by mixing molecules originating from natural feedstocks, as well as linking them to the more consolidated methods that use "classical" DES, such as reline.

In situ ligand-induced Ln-MOFs based on a chromophore moiety: white light emission and turn-on detection of trace antibiotics

Series novel 3D Ln-MOFs containing both carboxyphenyl and pyridinyl moieties have been constructed. Tb-MOF fluorescence turn-on sensor of levofloxacin solution with highly sensitive and excellent selective was achieved through d-PET approach.

A nanohybrid magnetic sensing probe for levofloxacin determination integrates porous graphene, selective polymer and graphene quantum dots

A nanohybrid magnetic fluorescent sensing probe was designed and fabricated for ultrasensitive and selective determination of levofloxacin. The probe integrated porous graphene (PGr), magnetite (Fe₃O₄) nanoparticles and graphene quantum dots (GQDs) into selective molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP). The developed probe was sensitive, selective, and its binding ability enriched levofloxacin in complex samples. The fabrication strategy was evaluated to achieve the best performance and the synthesized sensing probe was characterized. In the best condition, the fluorescence emission of the probe was quenched linearly from 0.10 to 25.0 μg L^-1 of levofloxacin and the limit of detection was 0.03 μg L^-1. The quenching of fluorescence was not affected by the analog compounds ciprofloxacin, lomefloxacin, marbofloxacin and sarafloxacin. The imprinting factor of the developed nanohybrid sensing probe was 4.26. The developed probe was utilized to detect levofloxacin in milk and recoveries between 91.8 % and 100.5 % were achieved with RSDs <6.5 %. Analysis with the optosensor provided the same results as HPLC analysis but the optosensor was more sensitive, less expensive, simpler and more rapid.

Innovative utilization of molecular imprinting technology for selective adsorption and (photo)catalytic eradication of organic pollutants

The rapid development of industrialization and urbanization results in a numerous production of various organic chemicals to meet the increasing demand in high-quality life. During the synthesis and utilization of these chemical products, their residues unavoidably emerged in environments to severely threaten human's health. It is thus urgent to exploit effective technology for readily removing the organic pollutants with high selectivity and good reusability. As one of the most promising approaches, molecular imprinting technology (MIT) employs a chemically synthetic route to construct artificial recognition sites in highly-crosslinked matrix with complementary cavity and functional groups to target species, which have been attracting more and more interest for environmental remediation, such as the selective adsorption/separation and improved catalytic degradation of pollutants. In this review, MIT is first introduced briefly to understand their preparing process, recognition mechanism and common imprinted systems. Then, their specific binding affinities are demonstrated for selectively adsorbing and removing target molecules with a large capacity. Furthermore, the innovative utilization of MIT in catalytic eradication of pollutants is comprehensively overviewed to emphasize their enhanced efficiency and improved performances, which are classified by the used catalytically-active nanocrystals and imprinted systems. After summarizing recent advances in these fields, some limitations are discussed and possible suggestions are given to guide the future exploitation on MIT for environmental protection.